Help With Installation

[AlexWipf]

I'm new to the linux environment, and I don't really know a whole lot about what I'm doing with linux, although I understand a lot about PC's and Windows.

I want to install Mandriva 2006 Free version, but dual boot so that I can still use Windows XP for certain software/games that aren't available for Linux.

I have two hard drives: a 120GB and a 250GB

I want to install both OS's on the 120GB, but I don't know how I should partition it (do I only need 2?), or which file systems would be best. I'd also like to know what file system I should use for my 250GB hard drive that I want to keep all my music, movies, and other files on so that they can be accessed from either operating system.

[bryansmith]

You will need a swap and a root partition for Linux at the least. The installer should do that for you but check before you confirm and start formatting. As for the filesystem on the 2nd hard drive, do FAT. Both Linux and Windows can read and write to FAT.

Bryan

[AlexWipf]

So does this seem good?

120GB Hard drive:
C: Windows XP ~58GB
D: Swap ~4GB (I have 1.5GB RAM)
F: Mandriva 2006 Free ~58GB
all FAT32? or should any of those be NTFS?

250GB Hard drive:
G: All 250GB
FAT32

Is there anything else I need to do or know before installation?

[oz]

I usually do mine as follows:

/boot ext2 (if I use a boot partition, it's about 32 megs)

/ ext3 (about 5 or 6 gigs)
swap (about 512 megs)
/home ext3 (about 4 to 6 gigs)

This can all vary, but that's generally what I go with.

[AlexWipf]

Ok...
Sorry, I'm still learning a lot about linux. What do all those partitions do? and What do I have to do with them once I make them?